Prioritization to do the most good

The Copenhagen Consensus Center is a think tank that publicizes the best ways for governments and philanthropists to spend their money based on hard facts. We add rational arguments and economic thinking to the global debate on development, aid money, and the environment by providing policy analysis and prioritization.

10 Years of Copenhagen Consensus

May 2014 brings us the tenth anniversary of the first Copenhagen Consensus meeting. It is a time to reflect on what has been accomplished in this time. In the coming weeks, we will look back on 10 years of prioritizing the best solutions for the world's most pressing issues.

Our Approach

The Copenhagen Consensus was conceived to address a fundamental, but overlooked topic in international development: In a world with limited budgets and attention spans, we need to find effective ways to do the most good for the most people.

"That’s where you can make the greatest difference, where every dollar you spend is liable to have the greatest impact."- Bill Gates

The Copenhagen Consensus is solutions-oriented, and our approach improves knowledge and gives an overview of research and facts within a given problem, which means that the prioritization is based on evidence. We host forums in which the topics are debated and a final consensus is reached.

In particular we focus on the international community's effort to solve the world's biggest challenges and on how to do this in the most cost-efficient manner.

We create a framework in which solutions to the world's big problems are prioritized explicitly, with the goal of achieving the most 'good' for people and the planet. The Copenhagen Consensus approach improves knowledge and gives an overview of research and facts within a given problem, which means that the prioritization is based on evidence.

We work with governments, NGOs and multilateral organizations on projects around the world.